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Genotoxic effects of X-rays on keratinized mucosa cells during panoramic dental radiography

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Feira de Santana State University, Bahia, Brazil; ²Department of Health, Feira de Santana State University, Bahia, Brazil; ³Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

*Correspondence to: Eneida de Moraes Marcílio Cerqueira, Av. Princesa Isabel 114, Apto 602, Porto da Barra, Salvador, Bahia, CEP 40140-000 Brazil. E-mail: eneida.cerqueira{at}gmail.com

Received 3 September 2007; revised 5 November 2007; accepted 30 November 2007

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effects of X-rays on epithelial gingival cells during panoramic dental radiography using a differentiated protocol for the micronucleus test.

Methods: 40 healthy individuals who underwent this procedure for diagnostic purposes on request from their dentists agreed to participate in this study. All of them answered a questionnaire before the examination. Epithelial gingival cells were obtained from the keratinized mucosa of the upper dental arcade by gentle scraping with a cervical brush immediately before exposure and 10 days later. Cytological preparations were stained according to the Feulgen-Rossenbeck reaction, counterstained with fast green 1% for 1 min and analysed under a light microscope. Micronuclei, nuclear projections (broken eggs) and degenerative nuclear alterations (pyknosis, karyolysis, karyorrhexis and condensed chromatin) were scored.

Results: The frequency of micronuclei was significantly higher after exposure (P < 0.05), as were the frequencies of nuclear alterations indicative of apoptosis (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: These results indicate that X-ray radiation emitted during panoramic dental radiography induces a genotoxic effect on epithelial gingival cells that increases the frequency of chromosomal damage and nuclear alterations indicative of apoptosis.

Keywords: micro-computed tomography, scanning electron confocal microscopy, internal resorption, quantitative measurement